Taylor Swift fans showed they could find light in a dark moment.
After the superstar’s Vienna “Eras Tour” concert dates were canceled due to a thwarted terrorist attack, Swifties took to the streets there in an act of solidarity. They held sing-alongs, shared friendship bracelets and made love the real message by displaying lots of hand hearts.
On Aug. 8, which was supposed to be the first of Swift’s three tour dates at Ernst Happel Stadium, the venue was closed, but hundreds of fans consoled one another across the city. Officials had expected up to 65,000 fans inside the stadium for each of Swift’s concerts there and as many as 30,000 non-ticketed fans outside.
Videos posted to social media showed a sea of Swifties singing her hits, including “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived,” “All Too Well” and “Cruel Summer.” The mood included both tears over the situation and joy in the impromptu camaraderie.
One person who shared videos from the sing-along in Stephansplatz, in the center of Vienna, was comedian Nikki Glaser. “Sang ‘All Too Well’ with thousands of displaced Swifties in Vienna,” she wrote on her Instagram Stories along with a check emoji. While it was emotional — fans not just missing out on the show, but some losing money in expenses — Glaser wrote that the sing-alongs were “so fun.”
Swifties also gathered on a Vienna street called Corneliusgasse to “commiserate about the cancellations,” the Associated Press reported. The location was selected because it’s similar to “Cornelia Street,” the name of a track from Swift’s 2019 album Lover.
There were also people outside the stadium, where Swifties wrote messages on the ground in chalk. One read: “It’s been a long time but we’ll wait for Evermore.”
The celebrating continued on Aug. 9, which would have been night two of Swift’s trio of shows.
While there was disappointment in the air, the sound of music was a hopeful message. Fans threw up their heart-hands, the loving gesture Swift adopted long ago, making that the real takeaway.
There were Swift bracelet trees, where fans displayed their beaded creations.
The friendship bracelets, a signature of her concerts (inspired by lyrics from her 2022 album Midnights), continued to foster the spirit of community that her shows have.
Some wore the Swift-inspired outfits that they planned to wear to the concert.
Swifties even made music on the streets.
Fans showed off their Swift apparel — and in some cases giant Tay tattoos.
Some also accepted the offerings of local businesses, which showed love to stranded Swifties by giving them gifts. Fans with tickets could have a free burger at Le Burger or visit the Albertina Museum collection for free.
However, the police presence at the fan gatherings across the city were a reminder of the scary reason behind the cancellations.
On Aug. 7, Barracuda Music — the promoter in charge of Swift’s Vienna tour dates (Aug. 8, 9 and 10) — announced that the three dates were canceled after two suspects — Austrian citizens who are 19 and 17 years old — were arrested for allegedly planning a possible attack at the concert venue. Authorities said the 19-year-old, who was the main suspect, confessed to wanting to commit an attack outside the stadium during the concert using self-made explosives and knives. The 17-year-old had recently started a job for an events service provider that works with the stadium.
On Aug. 8, a third suspect, an 18-year-old, was arrested. A 15-year-old was also brought in for questioning, but authorities don’t believe he planned the attack or intended to participate.
Swift has not yet addressed the apparent plot. Her tour dates at Wembley in London are proceeding as of now. Officials have said they’re ramping up security.
This comes on the heels of three children in Southport, England, being killed at a dance workshop celebrating her music in a small British seaside town in July. In a statement, Swift said she was “completely in shock” over it.
